Reflective marker



3%. 29, 1957 J. w. GAYDOS REFLECTIVE MARKER Filed May 6, 1953 INVEN TOR. J/IME5 W 64 r005 AUTO/9N5 m.

fl States Paten REFLECTIVE MARKER James W. Gaydos, Cleveland, Ohio Application May 6, 1953, Serial No. 353,343

1 Claim. (Cl. 88-79) This invention relates to a light-reflective marker and,

in particular, to a driveway guide or the like for designating the margins of driveways, pathways, roads, corridors, tunnels, etc.

Among other things, the invention provides a light-reflective marker which is at once decorative and highly eflicient in reflecting incident light. In general, such lightreflective markers as have been used heretofore, at least to any considerable extent, have almost always been flat and provided with a layer of reflective material on one side only. Even when provided on both sides with layers of reflective material, they have been unattractive to the eye and of little or no value when seen from the edge. The present invention has for its objects to provide a light-reflective marker which is easy to locate in position, which when so located is attractive to the eye, and which reflects incident light over an arc of approximately 180 degrees regardless of the direction of approach of the source of light.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description WhlCh follows and from the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is in the main an elevation showing the driveway guide of the instant invention as it appears When anchored in the ground; Figure 2 is in the main a vertical section with certain parts in elevation showing the driveway guide as it appears before its lower end is introduced into the ground; Figure 3 is an exploded view showing in section the components going to make up the upper end of the driveway guide; Figure 4 is an exploded view showing in elevation the components going to make up the lower end of the driveway guide; Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 2; Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Figure 2; and Figure 7 is a top plan of the lock washer forming part of the retaining means illustrated in Figure 2.

As appears from Figure 1, the driveway guide of the instant invention includes a standard or mounting member 1 of suitable shape and length, a ground anchor 2, and a reflecting head 3 of size and shape such as to conform approximately to the size and grasp of the human hand. Although the driveway guide may in some circumstances be used in a manner such that reflecting head 3 will be located not at or toward the upper end of the standard but at or toward the lower end thereof or, perhaps, at or near the middle of the standard, which in such cases is likely to take the form of a hanger, bracket or the like, in the ordinary situation the reflect-head will be at or near the upper end of standard 1, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In such case, there will usually be at the lower end thereof some provision, such as ground anchor 2, for holding it in upright position.

As is more clearly apparent from Figure 2, reflecting head 3 includes a hollow cylinder 4 which is formed of transparent material such as synthetic plastic, glass or the like. In the preferred form of the invention, the periphery of cylinder 4 is characterized by a number of parallel circumferential furrows 5 between which are formed the parallel circumferential ridges 6, there being in the form shown seven such furrows and six such ridges. This conice figuration is conveniently imparted to cylinder 4 in the course of the molding operation by which it is made. The furrows 5 provide convenient holds for the fingers and give a distinctive appearance to cylinder 4, both as seen by daylight and as illuminated during the night by artificial light, as from the head lamps of an approaching automobile. The upper end of cylinder 4 is rounded as shown in Figures 1 to 3 so that the palm of the hand may be applied without discomfort to the upper end of cylinder 4, as, for eXarnple, when forcing the driveway guide into the ground.

As further appears from the drawings, cylinder 4 is characterized by a closed upper end and an open lower end through the latter of which the upper end of standard 1 projects into the hollow interior of cylinder 4. At the lower end of cylinder 4 are retaining means the details of which appear below. For the present it will be necessary to note merely that the retaining means include an annular cup 7 of metal which is crimped into place against the body of cylinder 4 and which fits snugly around the shank of standard 1, this so as to provide a seal against rain, snow, and the like. The incorporation of annular cup 7 in reflecting head 3 prevents or minimizes deterioration of the parts which are located in or which cooperate with cylinder 4.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, standard 1 has near its lower end two raised portions 8, formed by striking standard 1 along the sides thereof, which act as camming means for the two halves 9a and 9b of a split sleeve 9 of metal forming part of ground anchor 2. The two halves 9a and 9b of split sleeve 9 are outwardly flanged at their upper ends, where they are attached (preferably by spot welding) to a supporting washer 10 of metal having a central opening 11 (Figure 2) conforming in shape to but somewhat greater in its dimensions than the dimensions of the cross-section of standard 1. Therefore, in the preferred embodiment of the invention those parts which go to make up ground anchor 2; that is to say, the two halves 9a and 9b of split sleeve 9 and the supporting washer 10, are at least potentially capable of sliding movement lengthwise of standard 1.

Standard 1 preferably takes the form of an elongated rod 12 of circular cross-section the lower end 13 of which is tapered or beveled to facilitate entry of the rod into the ground and the upper end.14 of which is provided with a frusto-conical portion fitting into a frusto-conical socket 15 formed interiorly of cylinder 4 at the upper end thereof. It may, however, take the form of an elongated wood screw inserted through a countersunk opening in the upper end of cylinder 4 (not shown), its threaded leading end projecting through annular cup 7 to a degree sufficient to permit of using it to mount reflective head 3 on an existing fence, rail, post, stake or the like. In either case, an annular groove 16 is formed in that part of the upper end of cylinder 4 which immediately surrounds the standard. A depending ridge-like annulus 17 defines the inner limits of groove 16 and serves as a guide for the frusto-conical portion 14 of rod 12 when the latter is being inserted in socket 15 at the upper end .of cylinder 4.

An insert 18 of reflective sheeting of a kind that is commercially available in flat form is prepared by rolling it from its original fiat form into cylindrical or sleevelike form. When so rolled, it is inserted in the interior of cylinder 4 in such manner that it will fit snugly against and line the cylinder wall (Figure 2). In the form of the invention shown, the opening in the interior of cylinder 4 and therefore the reflective insert 18 has a slight outward flare, particularly when, as is preferred, cylinder 4 is formed of plastic or glass by a molding operation. When a flat piece of reflective sheeting of suitable shape is rolled to form the sleeve-like insert 18, it will of course be characterized by a seam'19 where its two edges abut.

The reflective sheeting is preferably material of one of the kinds described in Palmquist Patent No. 2,294,930. Materials of this sort are commercially available from Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company under the trademark Scotch-Lite, typical materials being #5 Silver Flat Top, #240 Yellow Wide Angle, and #246 White Wide Angle. characteristically, these materials have abase, a reflective surface thereon, an overlying binder, and, depressed in the binder, minute lens-like elements having a spherical, aspherical or other suitable shape. Whatever its character, the reflective sheeting is of course rolled and inserted in cylinder 4 in such manner that the uncoated face of the base faces toward the interior of the cylinder and the lens-like elements face toward the cylinder wall.

When the reflective sheetinghas been rolled as described and insertedin cylinder 4-, a lock washer 29 characterized by opposed gripping portions 21 and a central opening 22 is brought into a positionin which it is in contact with the open lower end of.cylinder 4. Later, the end of rod 12 is to be forcibly inserted between the opposed gripping portions 21, urged into the interior of cylinder 4, and brought into seating engagement with socket 15. Therefore, lock washer is pref' erably of metal and characterized by a non-circular opening 22, this enabling the edges of the opening 22 to grip the shank of rod 12 to better advantage. Conveniently, opening 22 is diamond shaped. In Figure 3, the long axis of the diamond shaped opening 22 extends across lock washer 21) between gripping portions 21; i. e., from the near side of lock washer 20 as seen in Figure 3 to the opposite side thereof. With a lock washer of this type, it is possible to force rod 12 through opening 22 in one direction but not readily possible to retract it after gripping portions 21 have seized the outer surface of the rod.

Lock washer 20 thus forms an important part of the retaining means holding the reflective insert 18 in position in the cylinder and holding the cylinder in place on rod 12. Immediately beneath it is a non-metallic fiber washer 23 of conventional shape, the size of fiber washer 23 being such that it fits snugly within annular cup 7. The latter, formed as shown in Figure 3, is brought into place before rod 12 is inserted into cylinder 4 in order to hold fiber washer 23 and lock washer 20 in place against the lower end of cylinder 4. Preferably the upper edge of annular cup 7 is headed over by crimping as indicated at 24 (Figure 2) onto a suitably beveled surface forming part of theoutwardly extending flange 25 at the lower endof cylinder 4. Thereafter rod 12 is introduced into the cylinder through the neck portion 26 of annular cup 7. The latter has only a friction fit around the periphery of rod 12, although neck portion 26 thereof may, if desired, be crimped in place in its intended position, thereby enhancing the action of the retaining means at the lower end of cylinder 4.

Ground anchor 2, which is preferably assembled onto rod 12 before reflective head 3 is installed on it, includes the previously described raised portions 3, the two halves 9a and 9b of the split sleeve 9, and the sup porting washer 10. The two halves of the split sleeve 9 are provided at their upper ends with flange portions 27 by which they are affixed to supporting washer 19. Such flange portions are generally semi-circular in shape. By spot welding the flange portions to supporting washer 10, a unit is provided which is slidable along rod 12. Preferably each of flanges 27 defines an included angle a (Figure 4) which is slightly greater than 90 degrees. this so that the two halves 9a and 9b of split sleeve 9 may press by spring action against the shankof bar 12. This facilitates insertionof rod 12into the. ground before initiating spreading of the two halves 9a and 9b of the split sleeve 9.

As indicated in Figures 1, 2 and 4, the two halves 9a and 9b of ;split sleeve;9 are provided *with openings 28 near the lower ends thereof: such openingsrserve askdetent means for temporarily holding the split sleeve 9 and there- 'fore supporting washer'lfl in place on rod *12.

When the reflective marker as a whole is to be located in the ground, the palm of the hand is forcibly applied to the top and outer portions of reflective head 3, thereby forcing it and rod 12 into the ground. During the early stages of this operation, the two halves 9a and 9b of the split sleeve 9 are not deflected outwardly from rod 12. Thus the split sleeve 9, supporting washer 10 and rod 12 may be forced into the ground to about the depth indicated by line GG in Figure2 without developing any relative movement between them. The latter is initiated only when rod 12 has been sunk into the ground to the depth indicated byline G-1G in Figure 2.

To anchor the assembly in the ground, pressure of the foot or of the hand is then applied to supporting washer 10. Downward movement of supporting washer 10 on rod 12 causes the split sleeve 9 to move downward, displacing split sleeve 9 from the position which it assumes so long as raised portions 8 are engaged in openings 28. Further downward movement of split sleeve 9 under the influence of the pressure applied to supporting washer 10 deflects outwardly the two halves 9a and 9b of split sleeve 9, this being the result of the camming action brought about by'the presence of opposed naised portions'S on bar 12. The farther split sleeve 9 is urged into the ground by pressure on supporting washer 10, the more'halves 9a and 9b of the split sleeve 9 are deflected away from rod 12; i. e., the greater is the angle b (Figure 1) that is produced. When, as shown in Figure 1, supporting washer 10 makes contact with the ground, the parts occupy the relative positions therein indicated. Withdrawal of rod 12 will thereafter be diflicult or impossible to accomplish without removing most of the soil that surrounds it. Attempted upward movement of rod 12 tends only to increase angle b; i. e., to deflect still further the two halves 9a and 9b of split sleeve 9.

Thus by initial application of the hand to reflective head 3 and subsequent application of the hand or foot to supporting washer 10, the reflective marker may be planted in the ground in a manner to defy easy removal. When mounted as indicated, the light from the head lamps of an approaching automobile has been found to be reflected over an arc of about degrees, so that the general effect is one of illumination of the entire body of cylinder 4. Refraction of the light within the body of cylinder 4 causes part of the light to escape on the far side of reflective head 3, thus seemingly illuminating it even as viewed from the rear. The presence of furrowsS in the outer surface of cylinder 4 gives the appearance of dark rings separating the ridges 6 from each other. This gives a particularly attractive appearance to reflective head 3 as seen by the light of the head lamps of an approaching automobile.

It is evident that the construction of reflective head 3 lends itself to changes, particularly in the manner of holding insert 18 in position and in the manner of retaining cylinder 4 in place on standard 1. Other means maybe employed for closing the lower end of cylinder 4, although the system shown and described is particularly advantageous in that it excludes rain, snow, and the like. The details of ground anchor 2 may likewise be varied to meet the needs of a particular situation, as,

g for example, by providing three or more legs in the place of the two halves 9a and 9b of split sleeve Q and a corresponding number of camming means in place of raised portions 8.

{It is intendedthat the patent shall cover, by summarization in appended claims, all features of patentable novelty residing in the invention.

What is claimedis:

A light-reflecting marker comprising an externally furrowed hollow cylinder of transparent material having a closed upper-end and an open lower end; a standard therefor the upper part of which seats in a socket formed in the closed upper end of the cylinder and the lower part of which projects downwardly out of the cylinder through its open lower end; a sleeve of reflective sheeting located radially outwardly of the upper part of the standard, said sleeve conforming to the shape of the hollow in the cylinder; a lock washer at the lower end of the cylinder for holding the cylinder fixedly in place on the standard; and, below the lock washer, an annular cup for sealing the lower end of the cylinder against the entrance of rain, snow or the like, said cup having its outer periphery crimped over the lower end of the cylinder and its inner periphery in snug engagement with the projecting part of the standard.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Stewart Aug. 27, Klein Feb. 28, Treleaven Nov. 12, Davies et al. Sept. 1, Koeppe Nov. 1, Bergander Oct. 3, Hosker et a1. May 4, Luce Nov. 4, Frank et a1. Mar. 10, Taylor Feb. 9, 

